Cotton-press.



N0. 735,368. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

E. B. HANNA.

COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22, 1902.

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No. 735,368. PATENTED AUG. 1., 1903.. E. E. HANNA.

COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED new. 22, 1902.

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No. 735,368. PATENTE'D AUG} 4, 1903.

B. E, HANNA. COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22; 1902. 110 140mm. 7 sumssum a a M n r I 0 n. a i 1% 1 m z W I .x Y M 4 E v m" Hm a fi///// //fi/////// No. 735,368. PATENTED AUG. 4, 190B.

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.No. 735,368. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903. E. E. HANNA. COTTON PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 001222, 1902.

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PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

E. HANNA.

GGTTON PRESS.

APPLIGATION FILED 00122, 1902.

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No. 735,368, PATENTED AUG. 4, 190a.

E. E. HANNA.

COTTON PRESS. 4PPLI0ATI0N FILED QOT. 22. 1902.

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PATENT Patented August 4, 1903.-

L FFICEQ ELMER E. HANNA, or CHICAGO, ILLIN'ois.

COl'TON-PRESS.

srncrrrcarreuroimih as er Letters Patent No. 735,368, dated. August 4, 1963;

" l Application filed October 22, 1902. Serial No. 1 281303 (Ne modeLl T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatI, ELMER E. HANNA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain newt andusefulImprovementsin Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cotton-presses, and has for its object the provision of a press having a flexible platen arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, associated with piston mechanism for operating the same and instrumentalities for operating said mechanism, preferably fluid-pressure means, the piston mechanism being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cotton-press constructed in accordance with these improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, showinga portion of the platform andother partsbroken away;

:Fig. 3, an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of a portion of the cylinder and other mechanisms, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, a plan sectional detail of the-movable platen, taken on line 4 ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, a plan sectional View of the cylinders and pistons, taken on line 5 of Fig. 3 lookingin the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6, an-enlarged sectional elevation of the power-generating cylinders, taken on cross-sectional elevation of one of the four way valves shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, an enlarged sectional detail of one of the compound valves, taken on line 9 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 10, a

continuation'of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9, illustrating an enlarged sectional detail of a second compound valve and taken on line 10 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In constructing and operating acottonpress in accordance with these improvements it is desirable that the mechanism which ac- .ing-pillars, which act as guides therefor.

tually contacts the cotton to compress the same should be operated at first bya light or initial pressure and finally by a comparatively heavy pressure, so that the parts will be moved easily at first,when there is the least resistance, and by alight pressure until they can practically more no farther, and

finally bringing into play the total or. greatestpressure, so as to compress the cotton to its greatest extent without in any way changing the maximum pressure of the motive fluid, all of which will morefullyhereinafter.

as shown particularly in Fig. 1, is secured to the upper end of the sup porting-pillars.

To compress the cotton in the manner de sired, a movable compressing-platen e is pro vided and arranged to be moved upwardly and downwardly between and on the support- It is well known that the'difierent parts of the cotton-bale at first offer dilferent degrees of resistance to the compressing mechanism, and consequently that it is desirable to have such mechanism constructed to accommodate these different degrees of resistance. In or der to accomplish these results, the compress ing-platen above described is provided with a pair of parallel concave edges f, fitted with convex guiding ends g, which really form a part of the platen, or, in other words, a swivel joint therefor. Theseconvex guiding ends are kept in engagement with the main body of the platen by means of bolts and washers h. (Shown particularly in Fig. 4.) By this,

construction it will be seen that thisplaten is made in three partsa main .body portion and a pair of parallel swivel guiding end porlions-which permit itto have a certain To move the platen upwardly and downwardly, first by means of a low or inital pressure and finally under maximum pressure,

I provide a plurality of cylinder and piston mechanisms formed in two sets, which divide the total exposed or active surfaces of such cylinder and piston mechanisms into two sets of unequal area-the set of smaller superficial area/through which the light or initial pressure is'a'pplied, and the second or larger area, which is finally brought into use when it is desired to develop a heavy maximum force or pressure and apply it to the entire area of the cylinder and piston mechanisms without altering the pressure of the motive fluid. To accomplish this result, I prefer to provide what I term a pair of movable cylindrical piston mechanisms 1' and j, which are made in the form of shells,as it were, the upper ends abutting or resting against the under surface of the movable compressingplaten, as shown particularlyin Fig. 3. These cylindrical pistons are movablymounted in annular pressure-chambers kand Z in the base of the machine and, as above suggested, in

I turn provide interior cylindrical chambers m and at. These cylinder-pistons are further and movably mounted upon fixed central projections 0 and p in the annular pressurechambers, upon which they'move up and down and which are preferably formetL integral with the base portion.

An inspection of Figs. 3 and 5 in connection with the foregoing description will show that the exposed or active surfaces of the fixed central projections when compared with the exposed or active surfaces of the movable cylindrical pistons have a smaller superficial area. In other words, the construction and arrangement of-the cylinder and piston mechanisms is such that they form two sets of piston mechanisms of unequal areas of exposed or active surfaces. When motive fluid is furnished to the set of fixed central projections of small superficial area, a light pressure or force is developed to operate the movable platen at first. When the motive fluid is applied to both sets or the total area of the piston mechanisms, a heavy pressure and force are developed to operate and compress the bale into its smallest space.

The motive fluid is furnished to and exhausted from the small set of cylinders and pistons by means of a pipe q, while the motive fluid is furnished to the larger set of pistons through a pipe 22 and passage-way 'r, where it enters the cylindrical chamber Z at first, thence passes through ports or passages t to'the chamber is.

As above suggested, it is highly desirable that motive fluid at a substantially constant pressure be furnished to the set of cylinder mechanism of small area to develop a light pressure or force at first, so as to move such piston mechanisms, and thereby the movable compressing-platen, in a manner that will minimize the danger of destruction of the parts of the machine. Toaccomplish this, a compound valve is provided comprising a casing to, in which is seated a main or large valve 1:, as shown particularly in Fig. 9. This valve-casing has an open by-pass 100, extending around the main valve, so that the motive fluid, which is preferably water or other liquid under heavy pressure, may pass from a passage or pipe at: around and into a pipe or passage y, which connects with the branch pipe q, entering longitudinal passages z in the small pistons and passing therethrough into the cylinders m and n, above described. The main valve u has a plurality of small passages to, through which the water, which may be at four thousand pounds pressure to the square inch,is obliged to pass slowly into such main valve. It will be understood that the by-pass 100 is always open, so that when the main supply-pump, hereinafter described, is operated the motive fluid can always enter the pistons of small area. It is desirable, however, to have means at hand by which the operator or engineer may move this compound valve in the desired manner. To accomplish this result, the compound valve above described is provided with a smaller valve 20, axially mounted and seated therein,

so as to open and close an opening 21 in the end thereby furnishing motive fluid at the same pressure to the larger or remaining set of cylinder and piston mechanisms. To operate and open this supplementary or second valve 20 of the compound valve, it is provided with a stem portion 23, which has on its opposite end a piston 24, mounted thereon and operating in a cylinder 25. This cylinder has two pipes 26 and 27 connected therewith, which form, through the medium of a four-way valve 28, inlet and exhaust pipes, as occasion may require. When the handle 29 of the four-way valve is turned to the right, motive fluid will pass through the passage 41 in such valve into the pipe 26 and into the cylinder 25 to the left .of the piston, as shown in Fig. 9, thereby moving the piston and small valve outward and opening the passage 21 in the main valve, as above described.

and the contacting of shoulder 101 with bushing 102 will move the large valve in the same direction, thereby permitting the motive fluid to pass freely from the pipe or passage :1; to and through the pipe or passage 22 and supply the total areas of cylinders and pistons with motive fluid to develop a maximum pressure or force. In otherwords, it will be seen the motive fluid passes into'the cylinderthat when no pressure is inexistence to the left of the-main valve '1: (shown in Fig. 9) such valve is not balanced and the piston 24 has not sufficient force to operate it; but when the pressure on each side is balanced then any extra pressure on the left side of the piston is sufi'icient to operate it.

From the foregoing description of constru ction and operation it will be seen that before all of the valve mechanisms are put into use chambersm and n andthe movable platen is operated by a lighter initial pressure. It

is desirable, however, that some fluid or other at atmospheric pressure be furnished the chambers in and l. To providefor this resu1t,a reservoir or tank 128 is provided and connected with the pipe 22, above described, by means of a second compound valve 29 and pipe 30. This second compound valve is formed of a main valve 31, having an auxiliary passage 32 therethrough, which is opened. and closed by means of a second smaller valve 33. This smaller valve is operated by means of a piston 34 upon the stem thereof, which operates in a cylinder 35, said cylinder being provided with supply and exhaust pipes 36 and 37, which are regulated and controlled by means of a second four-way valve 38 in all respects similar to the structure shown in Fig. 8. The operator first turns the fourway-valve handle 39 to the right, as shown in Fig. 7, which connects the passage 41 therein with the pipe 36 and furnishes a supply of motive fluid tothe outer end of the cylinder 35, thereby moving its piston and the supplementary or second valve 33 inwardly and permitting the water under its normal dynamic'head to enter the passage 7 and therethrough into the cylinders of larger area. As there is no substantial pressure on the right of the main valve 31, the piston 34 will continue to move inwardly until the main valve opens and the water can freely enter the passage 4. When the pistons of smaller area can no longer be worked by pressure therein, before the small valve 20 is operated by means of its movable piston the operator moves the handle 39 of the second four-way valve to the left, thereby closing such pipe against a further inlet of motive fluid and continuing its movement until the passage 40 connects pipes 36 and 42. When in this condition, the steam or other motive fluid in the cylinder 35 ispermitted to exhaust through the pipe 42. A continued movement of thevalve-lever 39 to the left brings the passage 41 into such condition that it connects the supply-pipe 143 with the pipe 37, so that the motive fluid may enter the cylinder 35 to the right of the piston 34, and thereby move such piston to the left, closethe small valve 33, and move the main valve 31 with it against its seat in the valve-casing 29. The parts are then in position to permit a final pressure topass through the passages 22 and r.

When cotton has been compressed the desired amount, it is desirable to exhaust the motive fluid, so that the gravity of the parts may act to restore them to their normal condition. If the motive fluid were suddenly freed or exhausted, the weight of the mov: able parts, which weigh all the way from twenty to sixty tons, would drop back suddenly and be apt to destroy some of the mech anisms. In order to prevent this, the second compound valves 31 and 33, above described, are provided to control the exhaust operations, which are as follows: The first jcompound valve is closed by means of the fourway valve 28, the lever of which is thrown or. operated to the left, which'furnishes motive fluid to move the piston 24 to the left, as shown in Fig. 9. ator is also stopped. The lever 39of the second four-way valve is operated to the right,

so as to bring the passage 41 into line with the inlet-pipe 143 and the supply-pipe 36. This action opens a passage and furnishes fluid to operate the piston 34 inwardly, and

thereby move the small valve 33 also inwardly, opening the auxiliary passage 32 This permits the through the main valve. exhaust of motive fluid to the reservoir or tank to take place in a slow manner, so that the parts are forced to assume their normal position in a slow and even manner, thereby minimizing the danger of destruction. The

four-way valves 28 and 38 are constructed in a similar manner, both having passages 40 and 41, the passage 41 being to supply steam under pressure and the passage 40 to contact with the pipe 42 and permit the exhaust of steam to take place, all of which will be understood by those skilled in the art.

To supply a liquid under the desired pressure-say about four thousandpounds to the square inch-I provide a steam-cylinder 43, having a movable piston 44 mounted therein, the piston-rod 45 of which forms a ram or plunger and operates in a liquid or what I prefer to term a power-generating cylinder 46. This power-generating cylinder by means of the pipe 47 connects with the firstnamed combination valve. (Shown in Fig. 9,)

It is well known that water is practically in compressible, so that when the main piston ,44,which is being operated upon by steam supplied through the pipe 48, moves to the left the water is put under desired pressure. To move the piston 44,with its ram or plunger 45,

ilo

backward, steam is admitted to the left of the cylinder through a second pipe 48, as shown in Fig. 2. Each end of the cylinder is pro:

vided with pairs of exhaust and supply pipes 48 and 49, arranged diagonally with regard to "each other. In other words, the supply-pipes 48 are on one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and the exhaust-pipes49 on the other side. The supply-pipes 48 3.I'6f00n1160l3- ed with a source of steam-supply by means of a pipe 50 and the exhaust-pipe withan exhaust and heating drum 51. Each of these pipes at the bends thereof is provided with ordinary rotatable valves, (not shown in de tail,) which are operated by means of the valve-stems 52 and levers 53, joined together in pairs and connected by means of links 54 ally connected with the links 54, so that as the piston moves in either direction and approaches either limit of its movements, as shown in Fig. 6, such movements if continued will operate such trippingpins, levers, links, and valves to close the inlets and open the exhaust, thereby stopping the parts and preventing any injury thereto.

In operation and referring particularly to Fig. 7, the inlet-pipe 143 is connected with a source of constant motive fluid under practically uniform pressure, preferably water. A bale of cotton is placed between the stationary and movable platens and steam admitted to steam-cylinder 43, Fig. 6, through the valve'48. The effect of this is to force piston 44, with its plunger or ram, forward in cylinder 46 and generate a hydraulic pressure. This pressure is transmitted through pipes 47 and g and connections q to the cylindrical pressure-chambers m and n of the compressing mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 9, it must be understood that passages w and y are always connected pressure.

and always under the same pressure. When the movable platen has been raised against the bale and until its resistance overcomes the pressure of steam in cylinder 43, so that its piston 44 has come to rest, the compound valve 31, which closes the passage from the tank 128 to passage 7, should be closed, confining the water in the cylinders k and Z, which has flowed in from the tank, following the pistons as they were raised by the initial When such valve 31 is closed, the motive fluid should be applied to the left of piston 24 and valve 20 opened, allowing water to flow through the small openings w to the passages 21 and to the pipe '22, which connects with passage 1' and cylinders and Z. It will be understood that at this time the steam-piston 44 has traveled a considerable portion of the length of the cylinder 43 and that the live steam under high pressure is confined between piston 44 and cylinder-head to the right, and it will also be understood that if a free opening were established between pipe 47 and passages m and 22 the expansion of steam in the cylinder 43 would force the piston 44 forward at a dangerous velocity. This is overcome by making the combined area of the openings to such that the friction of the water flowing through these openings will retard the movement of piston 44 to a safe speed or extent. The opening 21 is'of much greater area than the combined area of the openings w and prevents water flowing through 21 from cutting and defacing the seat of the valve 20. The pressure supplied to the pipe 143 is such that when applied to the area of the valve-piston 24 it will move the valve 20, whose unbalanced area is not sufficient to open the valve 1) when the head contacts same. However, as the water passes through the openings to and 21 and the movable platen is forced upward the pressure will gradually equalize between the pipes 00 and 22, leaving no unbalanced pressure on valve c. When this point has been approximated, the pressure against the left-hand side of piston 24 will be sufficient to open the valve U to its fullest extent, and the water will flow from m to 22 and inward to r and into the remaining pistons, developing the maximum pressure or force for the final compression of the bale.

When the bale has been securely fastened, the press is lowered by exhausting the steam at the right of piston 44 and turning live steam through the valve 48 at the left of the piston'into cylinder 43, forcing the piston 44 back to its original position. As soon as the piston 44 has started back the pressure in all It will be understood now that there is confined within the chambers and pipes above specified an excess of water, more than can be circulated by one movement of the ram or plunger 45. Consequently the press cannot be returned to its original lower position without opening thevalve 31 or 33. If the valve 31 were opened to its fullest extent, the gravity of the press would be so great that the moving parts would drop back at such a speed as would be likely to destroy or injure some portion of the press. Again, if the valve 31 were opened only sufficient to allow the moving parts of the press to settle slowly the opening between 31 and its seat would be so small that the valve would vibrate and IIO make a disagreeable noise. To overcome this,

the auxiliary valve 33 is supplied. This being much smaller than the valve 31 can be opened, so that the space between the valveand its seat will be such that the vibration of the valve never would bring the seat and valve in contact. The area of the piston 34 is such that the pressure supplied through the pipe 143 will not open the valve 33 while under any pressure in excess of the gravity of the parts of the press and will not open 31 even with the pressure due to the gravity'of the press.-

pressing-platen has reached its lowest point, the valves 0) and will be closed by turning pressure into cylinder through pipe 27 by movement of the valve 28, confining the motive fluid in cylinders m and n and pipes g, y, w, and 47 and the motive-fluid-generating cylinder 46, thereby supporting the moving parts of the press. It will be seen that as soon as the gravity of the press is supported by the water in cylinders m and a there can be no pressure remaining upon the valve 31, and the pressure already turned into cylinder through the pipe 36 will move piston 34 to the right and open valve 31 to its fullest extent, making a free connection between pas-v sage r and the tank. The stem of the valve 33carries a sleeve 33, the end of which constitutes an abutment arranged to engage the original position.

end ofthe stem of the valve 31 to open said valve 31 in an obvious manner when the stem of said valve 33 is shifted to the right, Fig. 10.

The order of the operation is as follows: The valves 28 and 38 should be in such position as will close valves 1; and 20 and open valves 31 and 33. Then by moving lever 55 to the left steam is turned onto the steamcylinder, and when baling-press comes to rest by the resistance of the bale valves 33 and 31 should be closed. By moving 'lever29 valve 20 is opened, and when pressure has been equalized in pipes 47, a, and 22 valve '0 is opened. When bale has been pressed,a movement of lever 55 to the right causes the steam to be exhausted, and piston 44 returns to its By moving lever 39 valve 33 is opened, and when the movable platen has reached its lowest position a movement of valve-lever 29 causes valves '0 and 20 to be closed, when valve 31 will open and the press be ready for another operation.

When I make use of the expression that the pistons or piston mechanisms are so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter, it is with the intention of conveying the idea that the apparatus is devoid of any connecting instrumentalities between said pistons and platen as would interfere with the yielding of portions of the platen, which is flexible, as stated, to compensate for the inequalities of pressure and resistance.

, I claim-- 1. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a flexible supportingplaten arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, a plurality of operating piston mechanisms for operating the same,.means for supplying motive fluid to a portion of the piston mechanisms to develop an initial pressure, and means for supplying motive fluid to all of the pistons to de velop a maximum pressure for operating the parts, said piston mechanisms being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter, substantially as described.

2. In mechanismsot the class described,

the combination of a fixed platen, a flexible platen arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, a plurality of piston mechanisms for operating the same divided into two sets of unequal areas, means for supplying motive fluid to the set of pistons of small area to develop an initial or light pressure, and means for supplying motive fluid to the total area of pistons to develop a maximum pressure to operate the parts, said piston mechanisms being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter, substantially as described.

3. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of an upper fixed wall, a flexible platen, two sets of cylinder and piston mechanisms of unequal area for operating such platen composed of a'plurality of movable piston-cylinders contacting thelower side of the platen forming pistons of the larger area, relatively fixed pistons therein of smaller superficial area, said cylinder and piston mechanisms being disconnected from the platen whereby flexing of said platen is permitted, and means for supplying motive fluid first to the set of cylinders and pistons of smaller area and finally to the remaining area of cylinders and pistons, substantially as described.

4. In mechanisms of the character described, the combination of a flexible platen arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, piston mechanism for operating the same, and means for supplying motive fluid to said mechanism, said piston mechanism being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter.

motive fluid to a portion of the piston meohanism to develop an initial pressure, and means for supplying motive fluid to the'whole of said piston mechanism to develop a maximum pressure for operating the parts, said piston mechanism being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter.

6. In mechanisms of the character described, the combination of a flexible platen arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, and means for oper atin g said platen, said means being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter.

7. In mechanisms of the character described, the combination of a flexible platen arranged tocompensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, and fluid-pressure means for operating said platen, said means being so related to the platen as to permit flexing of the latter.

8. In mechanisms of the character described, the combination of a flexible platen composed of swiveled members arranged to compensate for inequalities of pressure and resistance, and means for operating said IIO ' platen, said means being 50 related to the crating said platen, said means being so replaten as to permit flexing of the latter. lated to the platen as to permit flexing of the 9. In mechanisms of the character delatter.

scribed, the combination of a flexible platen ELMER E. HANNA. 5 composed of swiveled members arranged to Witnesses:

compensate for inequalities of pressure and HARRY I. OROMER,

resistance, and fluid-pressure means for op- ANNIE G. COURTENAY 

